What is the difference between feeling and emotion?

Answer 1

The first response was a partial answer. While "feeling" has different aspects this is not what seperates these two objects. Emotions is a deeply rooted inner state of being, which can and often does affect an individuals entire life due to how it influances the view of life. Emotion is what makes us human. Animals are capable of feeling, but not of emotion. Emotion comes from our use of the orbital frontal lobe of our brains, and is disconnected from choice. Our emotions simply exist and we have to cope with them. Now, feelings are something we have a degree of control of and come from our thinking, our rational or irrationial thought processes. We have a degree of contro. For example: An individual has strong opinions of an issue. Such as illegal immagration or inter-racial marriages. These opinion inffouance how the individual "feels" about these issues. This opinion and the feelings which correspond can vary widely from others who share the exact same opinion. One may have a hatred, or racist or extreamist view, while another is more tolerant but sitll does not think is right. Now, there is a word that came up, "think", feelings can be based of thoughts. thoughts can be changed, either by assimulating more information which alters the view an individual has, or by opening his/her mind and allowing change to occur due to a higher level of growth and wisdom. The issue here is that "feelings" are transient and stem from thought processes, and can be a choice. People choose to become bitter, angry, spitefull, understanding, accepting, forgiving, etc.

Now, emotions stem from a deeply seated inner core system of beliefs issues from the deepest reaches of the mind which were instilled during the formative years of growth as a child. We learn our values and beliefs at a young age, further developement with continued exposure as they grow, instills deeply ingrained belief systems and core values with corresponding deep emotions regqrarding such beliefs. These emotions are difficult to alter and can shape an individuals entire life due to how s/he views the world and the beliefs about right, wrong, good, evil, etc. These emotions drive an individuals choices in life and is the prime force which shapes that life and experiances. How two different individuals view the exact same situation can be dynamically opposed and the corresponding emotions magnetically opposed. One may look at a gay couple with compassion and understanding and thus have empathy, and low emotional reaction, while another looking at the exact same gay couple may react hashly, with stron negitive emotions and disgust. Often individuals are unaware of where their emotions stem from and only know this is how they "feel" regarding an issue.

While both feelings and emotions seem to be simular, and in fact stem from a belief system, feelings are less deep seated and open to change, while emotions are deeply rooted basic and fundemental system of beliefs formed during the formative years of childhood. The emotions stemming from this belief system are rooted deeply in the soul and not easily altered. In fact an individual will fight with alll their might to stop these beliefs from becoming altered as this is what their entire existance is based upon. We have suicide bombers willing to die for their core belief system and the corresponding emotions surounding these beliefs. Feelings do not have the depth or width, of emotions. Feelings can change from day to day, while emotions stay with an individual a life time and seldom change.

Please forgive my misspelled words. I am not strong on spelling and the spellcheck does not work on longer answers. Thanks for this question, it is very enticing and difficult to answer. It is not one which lends itself to a one sentence response! ;-)

Answer 2

The word 'feeling' has more than one meaning. There is physical feeling, for example the sense of touch. There is also feeling sad or exuberant, in this case we are talking about the same thing as emotion. People sometimes confuse these two things - feeling (emotional ) with physical feeling.